By TCN News
New Delhi: The Ministry of Textiles has set a target of extending loans to five lakh handloom weavers in the next three years. This was announced by Union Textiles Secretary Rashmi Verma, at a national workshop on MUDRA scheme for handloom weavers and artisans, organized by Office of Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Ministry of Textiles at New Delhi yesterday.
Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA) Bank is a new institution set up by Government of India for development and refinancing activities of micro units.
The Secretary added that availability of working capital is a critical component in enhancing earnings of weavers. She said that the experience in implementation of Weavers Credit Card scheme has not been fully satisfactory; the per capita amount sanctioned is low and procedures are cumbersome.
Presiding over the workshop, Smt. Verma said that the Government is paying special attention to i) skill upgradation of weavers, ii) loom upgradation, iii) ensuring availability of good quality raw material, iv) providing better access to credit and v) branding of good quality handloom products.
The Ministry of Textiles has requested every state and UT to prepare a three-year action plan to achieve the five lakh target. The plan would cover all handloom clusters, with the aim of extending MUDRA loans to all eligible, willing, non-defaulting handloom weavers. The plan would also identify banks for each cluster, keeping in view the presence of banks and their willingness to participate in the scheme.
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Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Textiles, Shri J. K. Dadoo; Development Commissioner (Handlooms), Shri Alok Kumar and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Shri K. Gopal were present on the occasion. Representatives from states, Indian Bank Association, banks and Weavers Service Centres participated in the workshop.